Assessing the contribution of communal lands to ecosystem services: A quantification of carbon sequestration in a case study from Portugal

Pedro Gomes; Daniela Ribeiro; Domingos Lopes

doi:10.3986/AGS.14339

Authors

Pedro Gomes BALADI - Federação Nacional dos Baldios, Vila Real, Portugal
Daniela Ribeiro Research Centre of Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0511-3293
Domingos Lopes University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8912-6440

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3986/AGS.14339

Keywords:

baldio, commons, ecosystem services, carbon sequestration, forest, carbon market, satellite images

Abstract

The sustainable management of communal lands in Portugal faces significant challenges, due to the decline of traditional agricultural and pastoral activities, low economic returns and increasing risk of large fires. The aim of this study was to assess the perceived contribution of Portuguese communal lands to ecosystem services and investigate their potential for carbon sequestration. We selected a case study and identified the main ecosystem services provided by these areas by surveying local stakeholders. We also quantified carbon sequestration, using MODIS satellite images. We concluded that many community members do not fully recognise the contributions of communal lands in providing ecosystem services. Nevertheless, their carbon sequestration capacity in 2023 was estimated at a total of 92,351 tons.

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